Symphoricarpos plant named ‘Kolmgala’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Symphoricarpos  plant named ‘Kolmgala’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; short stems and internodes, bushy and dense habit; freely flowering habit; numerous white-colored berries; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Symphoricarpos alba.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Kolmgala’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSymphoricarpos plant, botanically known as Symphoricarpos alba andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kolmgala’.

The new Symphoricarpos plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heelsum, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new pot-type Symphoricarpos cultivarswith strong foliage and numerous attractive fruits.

The new Symphoricarpos plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2001in Heelsum, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Symphoricarposalba identified as code number 99-22, not patented, as the female, orseed parent with a proprietary selection of Symphoricarpos albaidentified as code number 01-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Symphoricarpos was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heelsum, TheNetherlands in 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Symphoricarpos plant by vegetativecuttings in Boskoop, The Netherlands since 2003 has shown that theunique features of this new Symphoricarpos plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Symphoricarpos have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Kolmgala’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Kolmgala’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofSymphoricarpos:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Short stems and internodes, bushy and dense habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Numerous white-colored berries.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Symphoricarpos differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Symphoricarpos have shorter lateral        branches than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Symphoricarpos have darker green-colored        leaves than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Symphoricarpos differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Symphoricarpos have shorter lateral        branches than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Symphoricarpos are more freely flowering        and fruiting than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Symphoricarpos have smaller fruits than        plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Symphoricarpos can be compared to plants ofSymphoricarpos ‘Magical White’, not patented. Plants of the newSymphoricarpos differ primarily from plants of ‘Magical White’ in planthabit as plants of the new Symphoricarpos are more compact and denserthan plants of ‘Magical White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Symphoricarpos.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Kolmgala’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical developing and open flowers of ‘Kolmgala’;

the photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical leaf and stem of ‘Kolmgala’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical fruitsof ‘Kolmgala’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following descriptionwere grown for two years under conditions which closely approximatecommercial Symphoricarpos production conditions in containers in anoutdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands during the summer. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 7° C. to 30°C. and night temperatures ranged from 3° C. to 16° C. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Symphoricarpos alba ‘Kolmgala’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Symphoricarpos alba identified as code number 99-22, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Symphoricarpos alba identified as code number 01-02, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About five weeks at 18° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About eight weeks at            18° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fibrous; creamy white            in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form/growth habit.—Perennial shrub. Compact, upright and            outwardly spreading plant habit; broadly inverted triangle;            short stems and internodes, bushy and dense habit;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basally branching habit with about            44 lateral branches.        -   Plant height.—About 48.5 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 47.2 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 32.6 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing: Close            to 182B to 182C. Color, developed: Close to 199C to 199D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            slightly rugose.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 144B to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Close to 138A to 138B; venation, close to 144C to 144D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 146C to 146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single campanulate flowers            arranged in terminal spikes or solitary in leaf axils;            freely flowering habit with about 16 flowers per spike.            Flowers face outwardly to drooping.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—From July to September in The            Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five days on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fruit longevity.—About one month.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Orbicular. Color: Close to 185B to 185D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4            cm.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 5 mm. Depth (height): About 8 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; petals            fused towards the base. Length: About 5.5 mm. Width: About            3 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Pubescent. Texture, lower surface:            Glabrous, smooth. Color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 186D; towards the apex, close to N155A.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 186D. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 186B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; sepals            fused below the apices; calyx, funnelform. Length: About            3 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 148A.            When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 143C;            at the apex, close to 183C.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About            1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 178A to 178B.        -   Pedicels.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 1 mm.            Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close            to N155A. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length:            About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 4C to 4D. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 4C. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 144D. Style length:            About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close            to 143B.        -   Fruits.—Length: About 1.2 cm Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape:            Roughly spherical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 155C.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color:            Close to 158B.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Symphoricarpos have been    noted to be resistant to Puccinia rust. Plants of the new    Symphoricarpos have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Symphoricarpos.-   Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Symphoricarpos have    been observed to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from    about −25° C. to about 40° C.

1. A new and distinct Symphoricarpos plant named ‘Kolmgala’ asillustrated and described.